OSCARS: THE OTHER SUPER BOWL

Friday

Feb 22, 2013 at 12:01 AMFeb 22, 2013 at 10:23 PM

Most people are kind enough to grant their neighbors privacy. This is true whether in stacked up big cities, or squeezed together small towns. Recently, in a building I never noticed in my neighborhood, some curtains were flung open and shades rolled up. And a huge flat screen appeared, in a large window overlooking the street. And the owners are sports fanatics. At any hour of the night or day, a passer-by looking up will see the flat screen tuned to one of the various sports networks. Basketball, hockey, football, soccer, NASCAR, tennis, golf. American sports. European sports. South American sports. (These last two are mostly soccer.)

The night of Super Bowl, the window went dark. Maybe such avid fans had game tickets.

Well, Sunday night is the other Super Bowl, the Oscars. Women tend to like this sport, fashion, better than men. Men want results, the score, not the jokes, songs, and tributes. Women will watch hours of pre-game shows, post-award interviews, and days of post-game commentary on who wore what, whose hair and jewelry looked best. Just like men with Sunday night football.

Anyway, like Super Bowl, this holiday falls on a Sunday night when most of us gotta work the next morning. But we still need sustenance. Lots of suggestions for popcorn and soda this year. (At home you can drink one bigger than 16 ounces.)

Clams oreganata doesn’t need all kinds of go-withs, as this is so impressive, that no one expects much else. Just a glass of bubbly.

CLAMS OREGANATA

The key here is to lightly steam the clams in a large pan of steaming water, just until they open. Keep a careful watch and don’t let them continue to cook once they open or they will be tough. Shuck the clams, taking the two halves of the shell apart; set the shells aside to use in the recipe. Pour out and save any juices to use in the recipe as well.

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/2 red onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup panko bread crumbs

1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano

salt, pepper

1 large roasted red pepper, from a jar, drained, patted dry, chopped

40 littleneck clams, steamed, shucked, shells reserved

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 lemons, cut into wedges

Preheat broiler. Set the oven rack in the middle of the oven.

Very gently saute together the garlic and red onion. Transfer to a bowl. Add the bread crumbs, oregano, and roasted pepper. Toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

Chop the clams which were removed from the shells. Add them and any juices from the shells to the breadcrumb mixture. If the mixture does not seem moist enough, add some water, a tablespoon at a time.

Fill the clamshells with the mixture. Place the clams on the baking sheet and sprinkle each one with the olive oil.

Broil the clams 2 to 3 minutes, until the tops barely turn golden. Sprinkle with olive oil and lemon juice just before serving. Serve warm.

lindabcooks

Most people are kind enough to grant their neighbors privacy. This is true whether in stacked up big cities, or squeezed together small towns. Recently, in a building I never noticed in my neighborhood, some curtains were flung open and shades rolled up. And a huge flat screen appeared, in a large window overlooking the street. And the owners are sports fanatics. At any hour of the night or day, a passer-by looking up will see the flat screen tuned to one of the various sports networks. Basketball, hockey, football, soccer, NASCAR, tennis, golf. American sports. European sports. South American sports. (These last two are mostly soccer.)

The night of Super Bowl, the window went dark. Maybe such avid fans had game tickets.

Well, Sunday night is the other Super Bowl, the Oscars. Women tend to like this sport, fashion, better than men. Men want results, the score, not the jokes, songs, and tributes. Women will watch hours of pre-game shows, post-award interviews, and days of post-game commentary on who wore what, whose hair and jewelry looked best. Just like men with Sunday night football.

Anyway, like Super Bowl, this holiday falls on a Sunday night when most of us gotta work the next morning. But we still need sustenance. Lots of suggestions for popcorn and soda this year. (At home you can drink one bigger than 16 ounces.)

Clams oreganata doesn’t need all kinds of go-withs, as this is so impressive, that no one expects much else. Just a glass of bubbly.

CLAMS OREGANATA

The key here is to lightly steam the clams in a large pan of steaming water, just until they open. Keep a careful watch and don’t let them continue to cook once they open or they will be tough. Shuck the clams, taking the two halves of the shell apart; set the shells aside to use in the recipe. Pour out and save any juices to use in the recipe as well.

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/2 red onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup panko bread crumbs

1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano

salt, pepper

1 large roasted red pepper, from a jar, drained, patted dry, chopped

40 littleneck clams, steamed, shucked, shells reserved

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 lemons, cut into wedges

Preheat broiler. Set the oven rack in the middle of the oven.
Very gently saute together the garlic and red onion. Transfer to a bowl. Add the bread crumbs, oregano, and roasted pepper. Toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
Chop the clams which were removed from the shells. Add them and any juices from the shells to the breadcrumb mixture. If the mixture does not seem moist enough, add some water, a tablespoon at a time.
Fill the clamshells with the mixture. Place the clams on the baking sheet and sprinkle each one with the olive oil.
Broil the clams 2 to 3 minutes, until the tops barely turn golden. Sprinkle with olive oil and lemon juice just before serving. Serve warm.